International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences 2018; 3(1): 1116-1119

ISSN: 2456-4419 Impact Factor: (RJIF): 5.18 Yoga 2018; 3(1): 1116-1119 Critical overview of performance of Indian women in © 2018 Yoga www.theyogicjournal.com Olympic Games Received: 26-11-2017 Accepted: 28-12-2017 Poonam Singh Ms Poonam Singh Research Scholar - Poornima University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Abstract India In the last few years, women empowerment increased the interest of young generation all over the world and especially in our nation India. Women has become more strong and capable to handle not only their day to day problems at their home but also to handle crucial problems in the society as well. Due to social humiliations female feels sad, weak, stressed and more depressed. With the growing participation of Indian women in sports, women are feeling more empowered, motivated, and capable to handle

everything pertaining to their life. Sport is the best way to make women more empowered. Women

Participation in recreation and professional sports activities enable them to live a life with more self- esteem. Olympic Games are the largest sports event which is organized in every four years. India participated first time in Modern Olympic Games in year 1900. Afterwards, Indian team took participation in year 1920 Olympic Games with 6 participants. After 1920 India participated regularly in Summer Olympic Games. Till to date, India won total 28 medals (12 Bronze, 7 Silver, and 9 Gold). It was very unfortunate that Indian women got opportunity to represent their nation in the year 1924 at Paris, France Olympic Games. After that female participation was increased due to their better performance. Athletes like Saina Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom are some of the Indian athletes who set big examples for Indian women that women are no more decimated in India. 2016 Olympic Games organized at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Indian women proved themselves with their empowerment and calibre by winning two medals for India. Due to this, Indian female players were motivated towards sports and their families are supporting for the same. Indian women won medals for India in the biggest

sports event i.e. Olympic Games and empowered more to females to show their talent not only to nation

but to the World.

Keywords: Empowerment, Olympic Games, athlete, participation, sport

Introduction Sport plays a major role in amplifying women’s voice and also in tearing down the gender discrimination and barriers faced by women in many countries. It was belief that women are incapable and weak in terms of participation in sports. Most of the times women have to show their calibre to clear hurdle for showing their physical strength, but also in terms of strategic

thinking and leadership qualities towards gender equality. Most of the research studies clearly indicated that participation in sports is beneficial for breaking gender stereotypes, for improvement of self-esteem among women, and also will contribute towards development of leadership qualities. Till 20th century, women are facing problems and discrimination as sportsperson and sports spectators in professional sports, sports media, recreation sports, and

so on. Nowadays, women have achieved more value and status in sports due to more participation and better performance at various level sports events. Olympic Games are the largest sports event which is organized in every four years. There are two Olympic Events namely Winter Olympic Games, and Summer Olympic Games. India participate in Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games. Ancient Olympic Games was first organized in Athens,

Greece in 776 BC. After that Modern Olympic Games were started in 1896 at Athens, Greece. India participated first time in Modern Olympic Games in year 1900. Afterwards, Indian team Correspondence took participation in year 1920 Olympic Games with 6 participants. After 1920 India Ms Poonam Singh participated regularly in Summer Olympic Games. Till to date, India won total 28 medals (12 Research Scholar - Poornima Bronze, 7 Silver, and 9 Gold). It was very unfortunate that Indian women got opportunity to University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India represent their nation in the year 1924 at Paris, France Olympic Games. ~ 1116 ~ International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences

After that female participation was increased due to good Games in the year 1924 that was organized in Paris, France. performance. After 1924, there was no record of women participation in the Olympic Games till 1952. In 1952 Olympic Games hosted by Indian Women Participation at Olympic Games Helsinki, participation of Indian women again initiated and Women athletes started participation at Modern Olympic continued till 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Table 1: Indian Athletes participation at Olympic Games

S. No. Year Place Male Participants Female Participants Total Participants Medals 1. 1900 Paris, France 1 0 1 2 2. 1920 Antwerp, Belgium 6 0 6 0 3. 1924 Paris, France 13 2 15 0 4. 1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands 21 0 21 1 5. 1932 Los Angeles, Unites States 30 0 30 1 6. 1936 Berlin, Germany 27 0 27 1 7. 1948 London, United Kingdom 79 0 79 1 8. 1952 Helsinki, Finland 60 4 64 2 9. 1956 Melbourne, Australia 58 1 59 1 10. 1960 Rome, Italy 45 0 45 1 11. 1964 Tokyo, Japan 52 1 53 1 12. 1968 Mexico City, Mexico 25 0 25 1 13. 1972 Munich, Germany 40 1 41 1 14. 1976 Montreal, Canada 20 0 20 0 15. 1980 Moscow, Soviet Union 58 18 76 1 16. 1984 Los Angeles, United States 43 5 48 0 17. 1988 Seoul, South Korea 39 7 46 0 18. 1992 Barcelona, Spain 52 1 53 0 19. 1996 Atlanta, United States 38 5 43 1 20. 2000 Sydney, Australia 45 20 65 1 21. 2004 Athens, Greece 48 25 73 1 22. 2008 Beijing, China 31 25 56 3 23. 2012 London, Unites Kingdom 60 23 83 6 24. 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 63 54 117 2

Table-1 clearly indicated that participation of female athletes Indian athletes and all medals were won by only female increased from 1920 till 2016. At the Olympic Games, female athletes. Women empowerment increased in the field of participated in the year 1900 but in India, female athletes sports through increased participation of female athletes at participated at Olympic Games in year 1924. Afterwards, Olympic Games. The graphical representation of women number of participation increased year to year. Till 2016 participation in the Olympic Games has been presented in Olympic Games Indian bagged total 28 medals in Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3. total. In 2016 Olympic Games, total two medals were won by

Fig 1: Graphical Representation of Indian Female Athletes participated at Olympic Games

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Fig 2: Graphical Representation of Medals won by Indian athletes at Olympic Games

Fig 3: Graphical Representation of Total Participants from India at Olympic Games

Women Athletes Achievement at Olympic Games Silver medal in Badminton Singles and recorded as first silver Women participation at Olympic Games enhanced the level of medal won in women category. competition among Indian Athletes. Till 1924 to 2016, Indian Sakshi Malik: Sakshi Malik is the Wrestler of Freestyle 58 Women won total 5 medals out of total 28 medals. This is big kg weight category. She has represented India at 2016 Rio achievement made by Indian women. Following mentioned Olympic Games. She won bronze medal in wrestling and athletes are medallist at Olympic Games: become first women to win medal in women wrestling sport. Karnam Malleshwari: Karnam Malleshwari was in Weight Dipa Karmakar: She is the artistic gymnast and participated lifting sports under 54 kg weight category. She participated in at 2016 Olympic Games. She has become the first female 2000 Olympic Games at Sydney. She was titled with first Indian Gymnast to securing fourth position in Gymnastics. Indian women to win medal at Olympic Games. She got bronze medal and add glory to India with this biggest Conclusion achievement. Women empowerment was clearly shown by Indian Female Saina Nehwal: She is the Badminton player and represented athlete’s personalities such as legend Ashwini Machappa and India at 2012 London Olympic Games. She bagged Bronze PT Usha were very vigorous and elite athletes of India. After medal in badminton. wards, in this modern generation other female athletes set Mary Kom: Mary Kom is the player of Boxing Sport. She example of women empowerment in modern scenario. also participated at 2012 London Olympic Games. She also Athletes like Saina Mirza of Tennis sport, Saina Nehwal of bagged Bronze medal in boxing in flyweight category. India Badminton sport, Mary Kom of Boxing sport are some of the won six medals at 2012 Olympic Games, out which two were Indian athletes who set big examples for Indian women that won by Women Athletes. women are no more decimated in India. 2016 Olympic Games P.V. Sindhu: PV Sindhu is the Badminton player and organized at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Indian women proved represented India at 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She won themselves with their empowerment and calibre by winning

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two medals for India. India bagged only two medals at 2016 Rio Olympic Games and both medals were in the account of Women section. Afterwards, Indian female players were motivated towards sports and their families are supporting for the same. Indian women won medals for India in the biggest sports event i.e. Olympic Games and empowered females to show their talent not only to nation but to the World.

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